2026

ASWA presentation: Power in the Process

Posted: February 13th, 2026

The Anthropological Society of Western Australia (ASWA) is holding a presentation on ‘Power in the Process: Leveraging environmental legislation and relationships to protect people and Country’, on Wednesday, 18 February, 10.00am – 12.30pm, at the State Library of Western Australia.

This presentation will be facilitated by Dr Anna Fagan and Kado Muir, focussing on how Traditional Owners can strategically use environmental legislation to strengthen agreement-making and heritage protection.

Cost is $30 to attend in-person, and $10 to attend online. Find out more and register on the ASWA website.

Free carbon farming workshops and webinars

Posted: February 5th, 2026

The ABC Foundation (Aboriginal Biodiversity Conservation Foundation) aims to support First Nations people, communities, and organisations in WA to engage in carbon farming, land restoration, and related initiatives, while also preserving cultural heritage.

They are currently offering a range of free online live workshops and pre-recorded webinars for people interested in learning more about carbon farming. The workshops will run from 11.am-1.30pm, with the webinars starting at 11am running for either 30-60 minutes.

You can also watch this informative video on Carbon Farming for First Nations land owners on YouTube.

The current schedule and topics include:

• Wednesday, 11 February: Carbon Farming Workshop
• Tuesday, 17 February: An Introduction to Nature Repair Webinar
• Wednesday, 4 March: Climate Change and its Impacts on Country Webinar
• Wednesday, 11 March: Carbon Farming Workshop
• Tuesday, 17 March: Blue Carbon – What is it? Webinar
• Wednesday, 8 April: Carbon Farming Workshop
• Tuesday, 14 April: Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), Fire Management and Cultural Burning Webinar
• Tuesday, 21 April: Soil Carbon – The Science Behind it Webinar
• Tuesday, 5 May: Natural Capital and Accounting Webinar
• Wednesday, 13 May: Carbon Farming Workshop
• Tuesday, 19 May: Indigenous Rights and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent Webinar
• Wednesday, 3 June: Carbon Project Setup and Operations Webinar
• Wednesday, 10 June: Carbon Farming Workshop.

Everyone is welcome to attend these free sessions to explore what carbon farming can mean for land and community. Find out more and register on the ABC Foundation website.

Help shape DMPE’s Aboriginal Cultural Capability Strategy

Posted: February 4th, 2026

The WA Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration (DMPE) is developing an Aboriginal Cultural Capability Strategy and is seeking insight to help shape its direction.

DMPE is hosting meetings, facilitated by Garlett Group, aiming to provide an opportunity for you to have a say and contribute directly to the strategy. Meetings will be held in:

• Perth: Thursday, 12 February 2026
• Kalgoorlie: Thursday, 19 and Friday, 20 February 2026
• Karratha: Thursday, 26 February 2026
• Port Hedland: Friday, 27 February 2026.

If you are unable to meet on these dates, you are also invited to complete the registration form outlining that you would like to meet during the consultation period.

Register online now.

NAIDOC 2026: 50 Years of Deadly

Posted: February 4th, 2026

This year’s National NAIDOC Week theme has been announced, marking a major milestone.

The theme, ‘50 Years of Deadly’, honours all those who have helped to build the NAICOC movement over the last 50 years. It looks to the past, while recognising how far we’ve come, where we’re at today, and where we are headed over the next 50 years and beyond.

In celebrating this year’s theme, the annual National NAIDOC Poster Competition is now open! The competition invites First Nations people from across Australia to submit an artwork reflecting the theme, which will then be used as this year’s NAIDOC poster throughout NAIDOC Week (5–12 July 2026). Entries close at 8.59pm AWST on Sunday, 1 March 2026, and can be submitted via the National NAIDOC website.

The National NAIDOC Awards have also opened for nominations, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are making a difference. We would love to see people within our regions recognised for their amazing contributions to their communities. Nominations close at 8.59 AWST on Sunday, 8 March 2026, and you can submit your nominations on the NAIDOC Awards Platform.

National NAIDOC have also announced the opening of this year’s NAIDOC Local Grants. The grants are available to support NAIDOC celebrations across Australia. Grants are available in the following streams:

• Educational institutions (up to $1,500)
• Small scale grants (up to $10,000)
• Large scale grants (between $10,00 and $25,000).

Applications for NAIDOC Local Grants closes at 12noon AWST on Thursday, 19 February 2026, and must be submitted via Grant Connect.

Message from the National Indigenous Australians Agency on recognition of Native Title Representative Bodies

Posted: February 4th, 2026

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, has invited Cape York Land Council (CYLC), Kimberley Land Council (KLC), North Queensland Land Council (NQLC) and Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) to apply for further terms as the native title representative bodies for their regions. KLC, NQLC and YMAC’s current terms as representative bodies end on 30 June 2026. CYLC’s current term as a representative body ends on 31 December 2026.

People with native title interests in the regions covered by these organisations, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in those regions, can make a submission about the relevant organisation to inform the Minister’s decision.

Making a submission – Submissions are due by 5.00 pm AEDT on 2 March 2026.

Further information, including how to make a submission, what information to include, and how submissions will be managed can be found on the NIAA website at: Recognition of Native Title Representative Bodies | NIAA

Board Governance Prescribed Body Corporate and Indigenous Community Organisation Scholarship Program

Posted: January 22nd, 2026

The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) has partnered with BHP to offer a scholarship program for First Nations leaders and Board Directors, designed to build strong governance skills, support community decision-making and prepare future leaders for potential board roles.

The next round of the program will be held in WA between February to May 2026.

The scholarship includes:

• AICD’s Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors, a 1.5 day course, delivered face-to-face in Perth.
• A half-day leadership workshop delivered by JY Australia, focussed on community and cultural values, to ensure scholars can contribute to collective decision-making in a way that respects traditional leadership structures.
• Reimbursement of reasonable travel costs to attend the course delivery, including 2 nights’ accommodation and meal allowance.
• Virtual coaching sessions focussed on: Values, The Board and CEO Relationship, Strategic Planning for the New Year, and End-of-Year Financials and Reporting (four sessions in total) led by Jahna Cedar OAM GAICD.
• Invitation to attend AICD’s First Nations Community of Practice sessions – which provide an invaluable space for First Nations leaders to connect, share experiences, and strengthen their governance capabilities together, drawing on both traditional and contemporary knowledge.

Applications are now open, closing on Wednesday, 28 January 2026. If you are interested in applying but are concerned about the timing of this deadline, email the AICD Scholarships Team at scholarships@aicd.com.au.Find out more and apply on the AICD Scholarships platform.